DESIGN INITIATIVE 1:

Chicago has risen to become a world class city through its embrace of its history in addition to a visionary boldness which has placed it at the forefront of design innovations on into the 21st Century. This year, in the spirit of this dual perspective, the Global Convention and Exposition on Architecture focuses on the near Southside neighborhoods of the Back of the Yards and Canaryville once home to Chicago's famed Union Stockyards - the subject in Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" which documented the notorious early 20th Century conditions of the country's meat packaging industry.  Although many are more familiar with the Chicago's monikers the City of Big Shoulders and the Windy City, its was also known as Hog Butcher to the World encapsulating the extent to its ties to that particular industry.  

Chicago Union Stockyards circa 1920

Although precious little remains today from such a rich and storied history, a couple of key structures yet stand as a faint echo to the significance of this legacy. In an effort to acknowledge and memorialize this history, a small park (Stockyards Industrial Park) has been created in the midst of an industrial park still serving this industry's needs albeit in contemporary fashion. The former entrance to the Union Stock Yards - the limestone Union Stock Yard Gate - has been preserved as a National Historic Landmark since 1981. The gate - located at Exchange and Peoria - was designed by noted Chicago architect John Wellborn Root of Burnham and Root around 1875.

Additionally, sitting up the street from this landmark and park is what once functioned as the Stockyards National Bank shuttered and deteriorating from decades of non-use. This grand structure which includes a clock tower and runs the length of the block westward is owned by the city and has recently undergone some restoration to secure its tower terra cotta facade. A vacant lot sits to the south of it and another vacant lot to the east of that are awaiting development.

Existing former Stockyards Bank building

The challenge is to spur greater urban renewal of this locale through the proposal of a design for a Chicago Union Stockyards Museum & Education Center incorporating the landmark gate and expanding the park. Additionally, the aim is to utilize the Old Stockyards Bank building as the center of this renewal by incorporating it as a visitors center, stockyards museum or restored to function period bank building. The new facility would tell the story of Chicago's economic livelihood at the turn of century through visuals, sounds, interactive experiences, and even smells. Considerations should be made for the incorporation of increased public transportation to tie into the museum complex. Complimentary buildings should be designed so as to achieve minimum LEED silver certification. Internal and external dining facilities are to be included in the plan.

Historical landmark Union Stockyards Gate

• Location of site and facility: Exchange & Halsted Streets in Chicago's Back of the Yards community.

• The area bounded by Pershing, Ashland, Halsted, and 47th Street comprises what is known as The Stockyards Industrial Park installed in 1971. The industrial park is home to a variety of businesses. A remnant of the old stockyards gate still arches over Exchange Ave.

• The building footprint is approximately 38,000 square feet. The building consists of 2 floors and a full basement. The floors are approximately 14,000 square feet.

• Re-adaptation of the existing structure for use as part of a Union Stockyards History Museum complex either as a restored bank with the main complex built across from it or as the main museum complex housed within.

• Main museum facility should tell the story from the beginnings of the meat packing industry to present-day technological advances. Additionally, a section should be dedicated to telling the story of Upton Sinclair’s famously related work The Jungle.

• Incorporation of surrounding environs including existing park, landmark gate and surrounding vacant lot areas into the overall complex plan.

• Inclusion of a restaurant, small theater, lecture space, a conference room, a large scale model of the former stockyards facilities and neighborhood, a gift shop, restroom facilities, and interactive kiosks indoors and out.

• Use of generous public seating and possibly period lighting inside and out.

• Facilities should be handicapped accessible and eligible for a LEED rating.

• Traffic patterns which would allow for public and school bus access, a plan for facility   access to rapid transit, bicycle storage, and a vertical parking facility.

• A series of panel presentation illustrations are required. Scaled models are welcome and even encouraged but are not required.

• A written synopsis of your design theory, feasibility and plan is also required.

With the ongoing influx of immigrants to western nations such as England, France, Denmark, etc., meaningful integration into the host country becomes critical. Often this integration begins with initial experiences in their new environment and this means transitional housing. The proposal here is to provide affordable and sustainable residential spaces which encourage assimilation and foster dignity, community and opportunities for immediate vocational participation to immigrant communities.

The challenge is encapsulated in this past New York Times article on France's last election...

An immigrant housing tenement outside of Paris

DESIGN PARAMETERS FOR CHALLENGE #2:

• program is multi-family residential

• individual units should be able to house a family of 5

• Must be a minimum of (2) two stories to a maximum of (10) ten stories in height

• designs should be suitable for scattered sites ethnic-specific regions

• designs should reflect and respect the architectural character of the region selected

• project should contribute to or be foundational to urban renewal and redevelopment

• building(s) should demonstrate principles of environmental and economic sustainability

• project should incorporate on-site counseling, vocational services, health facilities, and retail establishments providing employment opportunities

• site should be oriented to maximize the use of public transportation

• individualized gardening and farming should be made available to residents

• design ideas should be submitted in a graphic presentation format

• physical scaled-models are encouraged but not required

For reference, consider this assessment from abcnews.com international:

 

Although Muslims make up less than 4 percent of the population of the EU nations, waves of immigrants coming in from North Africa and Asia have swelled their ranks. In 2001, they numbered 12 million out of 375 million people in the 15-country confederation.  Despite the varying degrees of tolerance in different countries, Muslims tend to be seen by most European far-right parties as a community particularly unwilling to assimilate into what they regard as a dominant white — and by default Christian — culture.

This is the current situation in England:

 

A report entitled “Britain’s Immigrants, An economic profile”, produced by the IPPR in September 2007 for Class Films and Channel 4 Dispatches, shows that huge numbers of immigrants living in Britain are in social housing, contrary to the EHRC’s claims. The IPPR report shows that 80% of Somalis, 49% of Turks, 41% of Bangladeshis, 39%  of Ghanaians, 35% of Jamaicans, 33% of Iranians, 29% of Nigerians, 21% of Ugandans, 20% of Zimbabweans, 15% of Filipinos, 15% of Pakistanis, 14% of Sri Lankans, 12% of Kenyans, and 9% of Chinese immigrants live in public housing. These figures are, of course, already three years old, and the figures are likely to have increased substantially since then, as Third World immigration has continued unabated since the IPPR compiled those figures.

 and also this insight on indigenous nature of the use of the label immigrant:

 

But the very term "immigrant," as it is employed by the far right in many European nations, is not always a politically accurate one. In France, for instance, the term can get particularly complex since second- — or even third- — generation, nonwhite French citizens are usually lumped in together as "immigrants" or "foreigners." Most of France's ethnic minorities hail from Africa, mainly from former French colonies such as Algeria, Morocco, Senegal and Mali. "Now the empire is coming home," says Serfaty. "But though many have come at the invitation of governments for menial labor, many have stayed on and many have family members arriving in search of better living conditions or fleeing unrest." The anti-immigrant sentiment has triumphed, analysts say, on a wave of the fear about crime, a fear that becomes exacerbated in French cities encircled by poor immigrant housing projects. "Many European states do have to cope with the problem of communities within communities because immigrant groups are just not doing well," says Serfaty. "Levels of unemployment [among immigrant groups] are high, discrimination is high and there is a lot of anger within the community — and an often justified anger — that manifests itself in a venting of that anger."

Some of the newer social housing in Britain which isn't immigrant housing, yet could

serve as a directional target for muti-site housing for those transitioning into the country

Newer social housing in France: while also not immigrant or transitional,

it could serve as an ideal toward an adaptable template

*The final award will be based on the final number of participants. Prize amount is at the determination of sponsors and is subject to change and will be announced if necessitated.

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Imagine running a 5K race around a major urban center like Chicago - except running it on a course which winds around some of the world's greatest architectural landmarks all while taking on exciting and challenging activities! In other words, don't just see Chicago's iconic architecture - EXPERIENCE It! As a fun conclusion to Chicago's Global Convention and Exposition on Architecture, the Amazing Architectural Race is an opportunity to learn about the city's most famous structures and also contribute to a worthy cause - helping to fund our FORWARD Scholarship which aids college-bound seniors majoring in architecture.    The Race is run in teams of two (2). Both partners need to register individually or together. Race fee is required for both participants. This event is scheduled to begin at 9:30am Saturday April 17, 2010 in Millennium Park. The duration of the race is approximately 4 hours. Check here for updates on times, places, rules and additional information.    Take advantage of an early registration discount! Register by Feb 28th to receive $25 off the regular fee. Regular registration ends April 3rd.     CHALLENGE YOUR CROSS-TOWN OR COLLEGIATE RIVALS! ISSUE A CORPORATE CHALLENGE AMONG FIRMS OWN BRAGGING RIGHTS FOR 2010!   Early Registration Fee 1 Student Participant $25.00 1 Public Participant $75.00 Student Team (2) $50.00 Public Team (2) $150.00 Note: The need for a password to proceed on the payment page is only necessary if have and choose to use a PayPal account in which case you will also need your own email address.    Register your team's information to secure your inclusion in the race field. download the PDF form here   Sponsorship opportunities are available. Call us at 773.410.1314 or email  convention@chicagoarchitecturetoday.com   Volunteer and part-time opportunities available. Contact us for details. Email us at  info@chicagoarchitecturetoday.com   BACK TO TOP